Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-07-18
A NEW D0THEBOYS HALL.
ITS PRESIDING GENIUS IN THE GRIP
OF THE LAW.
PitiabIe Picture of Life at a Chicago Home
for Boys-Fed on Potatoes and Water
and ShaekIed Like ConVicts-And All
with the kindest Intentions-A Coilec-

ton of Criminal Occurrences.
CHICAGO. July 1S-The hatless and dusty
figure OF l2-year-old boy trudging down
hot road near Humboldt park attracted the
attention Of some kind-hearted people in that
locality Sunday noon. They met the Lad and
were mortified TO find upon his ankles iron
shaekles They sought an explanation, but
the little fellow only hung his head IN a
frightened way and answered nothing. The
shackles and chains could not be hammered
or cut off with such rude tools as were at
hand, and at last, knowing of nothing else to
do, the boys new friends rang for patrol,
and boy and irons were driven to the West
Chicago avenue police station. When warm
hearted Capt Ward bent down and looked at
the heavy irons and the bruised and swollen
ankles his sympathy was at once enlisted.
Come up here, little fellow" said the cap
tain, as he took the boy upon his knee.
Don't be afraid and tell me what's the
natter The kind words had the desired
effect, and the captain and officers listened IN
ama1ement to the story told them
The bows name Is Robert G. Ferguson.
His father is a clerk in a general store IN La
Grange, LII. The boy was whipped by bis
father and ran away, and on his return he
was again whipped and again ran away, and
the oifense was 50 often repeated that the
father at lasl sent his truant son, at the sug
Zestion of friends to the christian Home
provided for just such boys at Humboldt park
by Rev Thomas B. Arnold. This home the
boy described minutey There We're five
other boys besides himself OF about the same
Ib.tr or. and
each boy being allotted a certain portion
three times a day, provided he was not dis
obcdieut When disohetient their allot-
meHt was curtailed After being member
of the happy family a few days Robbie Is
capped from the place and walked back to la
Grange. His father at once sent him back to
the school, and on his arrival Rev. Arnold
took him into a close upstairs room, where he
was shackled to fourteen-foot chain, which
he was obliged to drag around when he went
to the bed or the window, but which was not
long enough TO permit him to leave the room
Here he was kept on half rations for four
days and nights, and was at last released on
"A promise to be good. He went down to
family prayers on the morning of his release,
and when evening came welcomed Rev. Ar
mold home very affectionately, as the other
boys did in their terror of him, but as soon
as darkness came he at once started for La
Grange only to be again caught and shackled.
This time his punishment lasted ten days, un-
til SUNDAY, while the rest of the boys and
their master were at church, he made the
best use of button hook which one of his
comrades had smuggled to him and picked
the lock which fastened the Shackles to the
chain He escaped with the shackles to the
street. where he was found as above related
The little fellow had iIst finished this
story when IN walked Rev. I. B. Arnold to
clam the child He is an ordinary clerical
looking. middle aged man with long whisk-
erS and when closely questioned by Officer
Little. of the Humane society, and Capt,
Ward, he admitted the treatment to which
he had subjected the child, but claimed he
had been shacklt-1 hut week. Officer Little
| knew the man-indeet. has placed children
in his care, supposing he was the kind, Chris
| tan gentleman he represented himself 10 bt
and when Arnold pleaded that nothing wa.
| meant but kindness the officer sternly replied
Il can do nothing FOR You, sir. Nou have
confessed to the cruelty and must stand the
consequences.
AfuOlu Is wei known Ill SNtalloFei HIS
| where for many years, with a Rev. Mr. Baker
and afterward with uIen Nichols, be con
Quoted The Free Methodist, leading orgaI
| in the west of that denomination In the lit
tie town he bore reputation for piety an,
earnestness IN the Christian work In Chi
cago he continued the publication of Th'
| Free Methodist. at l04 Franklin street, anC
| made use of hIs country reputation in start
| ing his novel home school for bows. At a lat,
hour Sunday night be was still in cell at tn,
| station. having 81 far failed to secure bail
He Is looked for a violation OF the state stat
ute referring to cruelty to children